In a landmark step towards greater transparency in the Indian judiciary, 21 out of 33 sitting judges of the Supreme Court, including Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, have made their asset declarations public.
This move follows a Full Court resolution passed on April 1, 2025, where it was unanimously decided that all judges would place their asset statements in the public domain by uploading them on the official Supreme Court website. Judges who have not yet submitted their updated declarations are expected to do so shortly, after which their information will also be made available online.
Among those who have already disclosed their assets are the three senior-most judges next in line to assume the role of Chief Justice in the future.
“The Full Court of the Supreme Court of India has on April 1, 2025, decided that the statement of assets of the Judges of this Court shall be placed in the public domain,” read an official statement from the Supreme Court. “Statements of assets of judges that have already been received are being uploaded… Others will be uploaded as and when the current statement is received.”
The Full Court also resolved that judges must declare their assets not only upon assuming office, but also whenever they make any substantial acquisitions, and submit this to the Chief Justice. The mandatory public disclosure is now part of the court’s policy.
The decision comes in the wake of public scrutiny and concerns following reports of an alleged large cash recovery from the official premises of Justice Yashwant Varma, during his tenure as a judge of the Delhi High Court. The incident is believed to have accelerated calls for greater accountability within the judiciary.
